I met play-write Nick Juarez last weekend inside a mobile home record store in the middle of the hyper-hipster paradise known as “The LAB” nestled in Costa Mesa, California. I’d never met Nick before but he was the only person in the trailer, so I took a guess and he greeted me nicely. We walked from the record store to a table near the middle of the Anti-mall. I started the interview by trying to get more information about the guy. Who is Nick? What inspires him to write? But he just didn’t seem interested in himself. Instead he focused on the kids in his new play Whisper all the Time and Estancia High School, the place that made him who he is today.Continue Reading

Written by Alina Mae Wilson

It has been confirmed. That spark of electricity that made the original Broadway cast of Into the Woods so unutterably unique still remains. I can say this with absolute certainty, because I just attended the Into the Woods reunion performance this past weekend at Segerstrom Center of Performing Art in Costa Mesa. It was so beautiful, I fell in love again.

Written by Patrick Chavis

Set in a Cuban immigrant cigar factory in 1929, the happiness and turmoil brought on by the classic Russian novel Anna Karenina brings to light hard universal truths about love, pride and tragedy. These concepts were explored thoroughly Thursday night in the Pulitzer winning play, “Anna In the Tropics” at Chapman University’s Waltmar Theatre.

A group of people, a haunted house. A large and ominous mansion that at times seems to have a will of its own, psychologically controlling its hosts and keeping viewers on tenterhooks. This premise is used in many ghost stories, including the classic horror film The Haunting, which was adapted from Shirley Jackson’s 1959 novel The Haunting of Hill House. Imagine a story based on psychological torment, spiritual manipulation, and a desperation for safety that contrasts sharply with a desperation for belonging–now imagine a stage production of that story which methodically strips away most of that tension and you’ve basically summed up the Costa Mesa Playhouse show.

The year is 1960. A scientist by the name of Dr. Montague has requested that several people join him in the dreaded Hill House, which has a history of people leaving with recommendations that the house be burned to the ground. These people are: Eleanor–a timid woman, who once had what might be deemed an “otherworldly” encounter as a child. Theodora–a brazen artist who can identify “19 out of 20 cards” when they are held out of her view, and Luke–the young man who will one day inherit Hill House. They are joined at intervals by the hilarious housekeeper Mrs. Dudley, and the doctor’s own wife Mrs. Montague with her assistant Arthur. As the play progresses the group is frightened by various aspects of the house, and Eleanor’s own state of mind deteriorates more severely than anyone could have anticipated.

With limited space the production designer created a lovely and realistic looking living room and bedroom. The bedroom door, which plays a significant part, is well structured in its role. While not overly spacious, the stage is sufficiently spaced and decorated for its purpose. Largely, the issues arrive not because of the space but because of the lack of movement.

Barbara Duncan Brown, Elle Grant

The players do not move enough. As previously stated, the audience only has access to the living room and the bedroom. The moments that take place in the hallway or the tower are voiced by the actors offstage and then discussed later in front of the audience. It is entirely possible for this format to work. But that would require the characters to be moving around in the space, and they simply do not. Instead they sit or stand in one place for long periods of time, moving only occasionally, seemingly devoid of purpose except that an invisible director told them that it was time to switch from the chair to the sofa. The lighting is appropriate for setting one mood, but fails to transition into a “storytelling” mode. In a suspenseful story, things like tone are pivotal, but the lighting of this story does not adjust.

Acting wise the Lead actress Stephanie Thomas is appropriately timid and withdrawn from the beginning, but her loss of sanity fails to come across. Her Eleanor doesn’t change enough to make the audience feel genuine concern for her well being. Elle Grant is miscast as Theodora, for although the character is intended to be young and beautiful, it is painful to hear Theodora refer to Eleanor as “kid” and “baby” when Eleanor appears to be in her 40s and Theodora could easily be a high school student. Gabriel Lawrence is inconceivably monotone as Luke. His use of inflection and phrasing is completely devoid of feeling. The best performance of the night is that of Barbara Duncan Brown. Her Mrs. Dudley is cold, purpose driven, and creepy. Honestly, rent the original (1963) movie the Haunting. It’s cheaper & you’ll actually get the scare, you were looking for.

Political intrigue has the potential to be difficult and fascinating. What really happens behind closed doors is a mystery that tempts the interest of many. This temptation might prompt one to attend Theresa Rebeck’s Zealot. Sadly, Zealot brings nothing new to the political drama genre and it seems to regurgitate important facts but fails to provide a true emotional connection to the audience.

Shows & Dates (directly from the press release) : World premiere of Loch Ness – The Musical January 30 – February 28, 2015

A scientist’s young daughter discovers herself – and a small, magical, and very reptilian creature – on the waters of the Scottish Highlands.

Southern California Premiere After The Revolution April 10 – May 10, 2015

One Idealistic woman’s beliefs into chaos when her inspiration is rocked by a family revelation.

West Coast Premiere Samsara April 30 – May 31, 2015

Katie & Craig are desperate to have a baby. When and indian surrogate becomes their only viable option, their lives unfold in a whirlwind of imagination and irresistibly.

Hair Spray July 10 – August 9, 2015

Full-figured Tracy Tunrblad only wants to dance- and dance she does, through her downtrodden neighborhood, through the harsh word of her schoolmates, and through the racial barriers dividing 1960’s Baltimore.

West Coast Premiere The Dragon Play July 23- Augusts 23, 2015

One Dragon, her need for freedom, her desire for human love, and the men who get trapped in between.

A Bright New Boise September 25-October 25

A mans attempt to reunite with family he never knew. Little does the man suspect that this experience will test the man’s endurance, his love,and, most potently, his faith.

Anne of Green Gables November 27 – December 27,2015

Classic story of a young orphan girl who works her way into the hearts of her adoptive parents.

The Eight : Reindeer Monologues

December 8 – 23, 2015

This show contains Foul mouth reindeer and very inappropriate Humor. For Adults.

Alice in Wonderland Feb 26-March 8, 2015

Alice falls down a rabbit hole to a world in which she encounters strange creatures and even stranger poetry.

Fancy Nancy – The Musical May 29 – June 7, 2015

Fancy Nancy and her friends Bree, Rhonda, Wanda, and Lionel are going to be performing in their very first show. Can Nancy bring fancy flair to her role, even though it isn’t the one she wanted. Perfect for kids.

World Premiere The Legends of Sleepy Hollow October 8-18,2015

The theatrical adaption of the timeless tale of Ichabod Crane.

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